Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-11-21
TO THE SOLDIERS.
Rev. Mr.. Chapman breaches q
Thanksgiving Sermon To the AID.
nnlfHal Rnnfa

Rev. MIR. Chapman breaches a
Thanksgiving sermon To the ADD
mfral FOOte Post, G. A. n.
The First NJ. E. church was we'll filed with
people last night. The occasion was the
preaching of Thanksgiving sermon by Rev
Mr. Chapman, pastor of that church, to the
members of the Admiral Foote post, 6. A
r., and Nathan Hale camp, Sons of Veter-
ans The post attended in body and occu-
pied the front seats. Mr.. Chspman's SER
mon was on carrying out the divine pur-
pose of God," and it was very inter-
esting and able discourse. In conclusion he
said:
God rules in the affairs of men as illus
trated in the divine purpose shown in jew
ish history, from Abraham to Christ. On
this continent Gods purpose is shown in the
history of this free land of liberty. God has
watched over this country and it has come
out triumphant in its struggles. The third
contest came but short time ago. There
were eight colonies which were ruled by
town meetings and the voice of the people.
There were five others governed by ollgar-
chy, a few ruling the many. Finally the
crash came. You brethren before me re-
member in '61, when the boom of cannon
was heard in Charleston harbor, which re-
verberated throughout the nation. 1t made
men rise up and follow the shatter-
ed flag, and this grand purpose for
which you fought stands unparalleled in
the history of the world. My brethren, it has
been to your purity to work out the divine
purpose of God and to keep back the heat of
dissolution. 1t is history now. The south
ern wave struck a northern rock. The waves
shattered but the rock stood firm. We can
propagate the work of civilization now as
laid down by God and tonight we can look
out upon a vast, magnificent future and look
to Him who is the light of the world. But
who of us have any conception of what the
future of this country is to bes The new
world is young yet. We are the fathers and
founders of it still. We are beginning to see
what our divine purpose is. 1t is to create 8
Christianity that will capture the whole
world for Jesus Christ. Every biblical stu
dent knows how Israel betrayed his trust.
Are we betraying the trust that God entrust-
ed to us? Are we helping or hindering him
in carrying out his divine purpose? There
are different classes who say that the diffus-
sion of liberty, of wealth, of intelligence,
of education, will any one of which save
the country and then the millennium will be
reached. Go over into Canada. There are
ton of an education that forgot
character. Diffuse wealth, property
and intelligence and you do we'll; there will
be the suicide of the country if you do not
diffuse with it moral, Christian principles.
With an eloquent peroration the speaker
closed.
The music last evening was prepared spec
ially for the occasion, and included fine
original composition by the gifted Professor
Pohney entitled Response-"Saviour to
Thee" the words also being by Professor
Bonney. The selections for the evening were
Benedictus, by Ravens; Gloria, by Patten;
Response, by Bonney, and Battle Prayer, by
TT.- ~ 81 1,,A |, o{TaT
tory. The quartette sang finely. Professor
Bonney being indisposed owing to severe
cold his place was taken by Mr.. Frank
Osborn.